
NOTE.—"It is now that we must keep
ourselves and our children unspotted from
the world. It is now that we must wash
our robes of character and make them
white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now
that we must overcome pride, passion, and
spiritual slothfulness. It is now that we
must awake and make determined effort
for symmetry of
character."—Testimonies,
vol.
5, pp. 215, 216.
2.
What disturbances in nature
and among nations are predicted as
signs of the approaching end? Luke
21:25.
NOTE.—"The attention of the people
should be called to the momentous event
which is so near at hand. The signs of
the times should be kept fresh before their
minds. The prophetic visions of Daniel and
John foretell a period of moral darkness
and declension ; but at the time of the end,
the time in which we are now living, the
vision was to speak and not lie. When
the signs predicted begin to come to
pass, the waiting, watching ones are bid-
den to look up and lift up their heads
and rejoice because their redemption draw-
eth nigh. . . .
"Thank God, all will not be rocked to
sleep in the cradle of carnal security. There
will be faithful ones who will discern the
signs of the times. While a large number
professing present truth will deny their
faith by their works, there will be some
who will endure unto the
end."—Testi-
monies, vol.
5, pp. 9, 10.
3.
How are the last days portrayed
in the Scriptures? 2 Tim. 3:1-6.
NoTE.—"There is coming rapidly and
surely an almost universal guilt upon the
inhabitants of the cities, because of the
steady increase of determined wickedness.
The corruption that prevails is beyond the
power of the human pen to describe. Every
day brings fresh revelations of strife,
bribery, and fraud; every day brings its
heart-sickening record of violence and law-
lessness, of indifference to human suffering,
of brutal, fiendish destruction of human
life. Every day testifies to the increase
of insanity, murder, and suicide. . . . Men
boast of the wonderful progress and en-
lightenment of the age in which we are now
living; but God sees the earth filled with
iniquity and violence. . . . The black rec-
ord of crime committed for the sake of gain
is enough to chill the blood and fill the soul
with
horror."—Prophets and Kings,
page
275.
4.
What will God do when men
have made void His law? Ps. 119:126.
NOTE.—"Like David, we may now pray,
`It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for
they have made void Thy law.' Men have
gone on in disobedience to God's law until
they have reached a point of insolence that
is unparalleled. Men are training in dis-
obedience, and are fast approaching the
limit of God's forbearance and love, and
God will surely interfere. He will surely
vindicate His honor and repress the pre-
vailing iniquity. Will God's command-
ment-keeping people be carried away with
the prevailing iniquity? . . . No. To
His church His law becomes more precious,
holy, honorable, as men cast upon it scorn
and
contempt."—Testimonies to Ministers,
page 21.
God's Standard Altered
5.
According to Daniel the prophet,
what was to be done against God,
His law, and His people? Dan. 7:25.
NorE.—"Men will surely set up their
laws to counterwork the laws of God.
They will seek to compel the consciences
of others, and in their zeal to enforce these
laws they will oppress their fellowmen.
"The warfare against God's law, which
was begun in heaven, will be continued
until the end of time. Every man will be
tested. . . . All will be called to choose
between the laws of God and the laws of
men."—The Desire of Ages,
page 763.
6.
To what extent will the world
be deceived in the last days? Why?
2 Thess. 2:8-11; Rev. 13:3, 4.
L 14 3